Operators question progress

Luke Rawalai
Wednesday, June 11, 2014

TAXIdrivers in Labasa have questioned the progress of plans by authorities to relocate and extend the current bus and taxi stands to cater for the increasing number of public service vehicle operators in the town.

Labasa Taxi Union secretary Sujit Sharma said there was a need for more taxi stands and they welcomed plans by authorities for the new location.

Mr Sharma said these would cater for more taxi stands for taxi operators.

"Labasa Town currently has 184 taxis operating from its bases while taxis were initially allocated with 70 stands by the Labasa Town Council," he said.

"Labasa market base taxis are 134 in total with a number of 40 stands allocated for them which is too little.

"There is a vast difference between the number of taxis we have and the allocation of stands."

Mr Sharma said there was a dire need for more taxi stands in Labasa Town.

Responding to the questions raised by the association, Fiji Roads Authority spokeswoman Onarina Umu confirmed that plans for the extension of Labasa bus and taxi stands were progressing.

Ms Umu said the designs for the new stands were yet to be completed.

"The Labasa bus stand is to be completed by the end of August," she said.

"This includes any drainage work which may be required for the new extension and the two stands."